Computer speed test?-&LogitechQuickCam probs?

ampersand

This arrived from PC World last week and although the whole Skype thing is exciting as a novelty, I feel this supposedly toppish-of-range Logitech Optic Sphere webcam/and/or whatever else, is not performing as it ought.
This evening's call to France[other party uses Logitech Pro Form 9000]was characterised by 3 'call dropped's, fairly constant, at my end, pixelating of other party[very Cubist/Picasso comments were soon montonously ho-hum], stop/start speech/movement and - for a long time - near darkness chez lui. There was also some blurring which self-corrected.

Other party speaks of blurred, poor colour, poor light chez moi and delayed, staccato movement and time/speech lag as a jumpy constant, with tails of words repeating, despite correct sound levels etc - could hear myself myself at times, if that's clear!

We've several times had problems all relating to my having to unplug, re-plug, uninstall, reinstall several bits and bobs. Tonight it was ages[over 40 mins] before I could get sound through my equally new logitech speakers, though they are fine now.

Whether or not it's related, I've several times this week had a dead keyboard, too. This, I found by chance but now rely on when it recurs, is corrected when I uninstall and reinstall, plus complete shutdown and Restart of 'putah itself.

These things happen rather a lot and are tiresome.

I read somewhere on these Threads about testing actual running speed of computer, but cannot find the right form of words to put in the search boxes for a successful trawl.
Can anyone kindly tell me:
a] where this is.
b] whether or not it is likely to be of benefit
c] whether or not actual running speed is pertinent to the increasing skype problems.

I apologise for the length of this post and non-techie description.
Unless any answers are simply given, I'm afraid I will not be able to comply with technospeak solutions/suggestions.

Thankyou for reading this through.
[Question is also whether or not I should return this - for me - quite pricey webcam for the same model as other party in France has. Will/Might anything be likely to change/improve?]

posted_2

Most of those symptoms could be down to your and your counterparts internet connection and all points in between, lighting, and webcam brightness/colour settings. The easiest way of seeing if the processor is stressed is to look at the performace tab in task manager.

ampersand

Thanks posted - should perhaps assure readers that despite inexperience, have gone through all sites, books, etc.etc. carefully, duly and thoroughly, with other party also talking me through the new probs as they've arisen.

e.g. All the skype site tests are performed as necessary, ditto googling the problem and working through those solutions, too.

Have taken on board all the correct settings info and real light advice etc.etc. Tonight we experimented with different lights on and off, when the usual set-up was way out of previous kilter. But the levels were not consistently correcting, despite all else being the same. Then, having slowly, or suddenly come right[no rhyme or reason-we'd just notice at our respective stations]it would then go all dark, or pixel-y or stop etc.etc. again.

This is a minor example.

At this point - remembering Martin says there is no such thing as a stupid question - can it simply be that cack weather at some point between here and there, massive use by zillions ditto, wrong kind of snow-type scenarios, can cause all/some of this? Is it likely to be ever thus?

Thankyou again.

ampersand

posted wrote: »

Most of those symptoms could be down to your and your counterparts internet connection and all points in between, lighting, and webcam brightness/colour settings. The easiest way of seeing if the processor is stressed is to look at the performace tab in task manager.

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I will happily do so - where do I find this please?

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Ah.........just on way to find it via Google.


Ok, can see it from con+alt+del. How do I assess what I'm seeing please?
Can't seem to copy and paste here - says 65 processes running and a % fig[for what?]alters between 4-9.
2 Heart monitor-type tables running above.
4 category boxes below.
None of this means anything to me, I'm afraid.

aliEnRIK

Id guess youve installed 'logitech desktop messenger' too which causes problems

if your unsure ~
Download HIJACK THIS (Make sure you click 'DOWNLOAD LATEST VERSION')
http://www.filehippo.com/download_hijackthis/
Click DO A SCAN AND SAVE A LOGFILE (Takes seconds) then post the log so we can see whats running
(do NOT do anything else with Hijack but scan and post the FULL log)

ampersand

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Id guess youve installed 'logitech desktop messenger' too which causes problems

if your unsure ~
Download HIJACK THIS (Make sure you click 'DOWNLOAD LATEST VERSION')
http://www.filehippo.com/download_hijackthis/
Click DO A SCAN AND SAVE A LOGFILE (Takes seconds) then post the log so we can see whats running
(do NOT do anything else with Hijack but scan and post the FULL log)

###############
Yes aR, I'm sure I saw this earlier when we checked through the progs. I'll do it now.
Back shortly - thankyou so much for this.


Gosh, that's amazing! - so quick:
Le voici -

aliEnRIK

Logitech desktop messenger is NOT needed for the cam to work (use msn messenger, yahoo, gmail, skype or whatever), so uninstall it

posted_2

If cpu usage graph is at 100% or thereabouts, your processor is running flat out, otherwise it is fine

ampersand

posted wrote: »

If cpu usage graph is at 100% or thereabouts, your processor is running flat out, otherwise it is fine

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Just put it on again now, having read your further advice posted - and altho' in first 1-2 secs at 64>79%, seemed to instantly drop when I began typing this and looks to be @ 5>10%. Ah yes, I now see this fig appears both as green tabular graph in upper left cnr, as well as middle of 3 stats along bottom line. 2% has started appearing, too.
Does the removal of the little optic webcam symbol mean I need to perform any performance tests by going fully into the skype website?
Previously, my response to probs was to click that small camera eye symbol, then click the 2-cogs=tools thing, then perform tests as required.
Tonight e.g. the speakers test failed for ages[post passim], then couldn't find video camera.....on and on it went.

DatabaseError

you seem to have a combination of hardware (intermittent local sound/video) and connectivity (pixelation/dropouts) problems.
The connectivity issues are unlikely to improve (but we can have a look at router stats etc...later)....
..but, speakers should work as soon as the PC is on, so something is amiss. Please follow Rik's advice in post #5, also give us an idea what kind of PC you're using and what operating system...

ampersand

Thanyou DE - I really feel I need to rtn this webcam. Apart from probs, it uses up non-existent space on tiny desk, risks being knocked over, does not have clip to screen facility, as I was assured would be possible, despite all my thorough reading.
May I just ask whether, by your own hearsay/experience you consider the 'downgrade'[manner of speaking] from my Logitech Optic Sphere to Logitech pro form 9000 is likely to be grossly apparent. Other party skypes<France with another UK party, also with pro form 9000, and all is reported as v.g.
Any input would be most gratefully rcvd.
Speakers are fine this morning, haven't tried camera.
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Camera's fine - but then look to be so yesterday, when we spoke and I assumed that the way I saw webcam self, was the way Other Party was seeing me, but this was not so. My description in prev. posts of reception<France are prob. the same.